Fired-up Leishman says it’s for Lyle
MARC Leishman revealed Jarrod Lyle’s decision to begin palliative care as his inspiration behind his swashbuckling first round at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio yesterday.
Australian world No. 19 Leishman hit just four of 14 fairways at the difficult Firestone Country Club, but salvaged a remarkable fiveunder-par 65 to sit three shots behind first-round leader Ian Poulter (62).
English star Poulter set the pace at eight under — one shot ahead of Americans Rickie Fowler and Kyle Stanley (63).
Leishman said good mate Lyle, who this week ceased cancer treatment, was on his mind.
“A big part of me wants to win it (for Lyle),” Leishman said. “It would be great to have a beer out of that trophy for him at the end of the week.”
Former world No. 1 Jason Day matched countryman Leishman’s 65 and said he was also hungry to lift the trophy for Lyle.
“To have that platform to dedicate it to him would be special, but we have to put ourselves in position to pull that off,” Day said.
With competitors sporting yellow ribbons on day one at Firestone in support of Lyle, Queenslander Adam Scott (68) was buoyed by talk in the locker room that US Tour players are planning to rally hard to look after the Lyle family long-term.
“We’ve all got him on our minds for sure and in fairness, it’s not just the Aussie boys,” Scott said.
“Everyone was talking about him this morning and what they’re trying to do for him and his family, which is so nice because he’s touched everyone out here.”